Adapter for connecting at least one accessory device to an operating table

ABSTRACT

An adapter ( 10 ) is described for connecting at least one accessory device ( 12 ) to an operating table ( 14 ), comprising a first fixing device for attaching a base body of the adapter ( 10 ) to the operating table ( 14 ) and a second fixing device for attaching the accessory device ( 12 ) to the adapter ( 10 ). The base body is formed from an X-ray transparent plate ( 16 ), said X-ray transparent plate ( 16 ) including a part lying on a support surface ( 15 ) of the operating table ( 14 ) and another part extending beyond the support surface ( 15 ) and forming a support surface extension for supporting a patient, when said X-ray transparent plate ( 16 ) is attached to the operating table ( 14 ).

The invention relates to an adapter for connecting at least oneaccessory device to an operating table.

In the field of endoprothetics, accessory devices, e.g. plug-in devicesfor hip surgery are used, which are connected to a conventionaloperating table. For this purpose the operating table must includeinterfaces specifically designed for the accessory device, which allowfor connecting the accessory device.

As the number of joint operations has been increasing for years, thereis also an increasing number of different operating table systems, whichare used in the field of endoprothetics. Against this background theinvention is based on the object of creating a possibility to combinethe accessory devices more flexibly than previously with differentoperating tables.

The invention solves this problem by an adapter for connecting at leastone accessory device to an operating table, comprising a first fixingdevice for attaching a base body of the adapter to the operating tableand a second fixing device for attaching the accessory device to theadapter, wherein the base body is formed from an X-ray transparentplate, said X-ray transparent plate including a part lying on a supportsurface of the operating table and another part extending beyond thesupport surface and forming a support surface extension for supporting apatient, when said X-ray transparent plate is attached to the operatingtable.

The adapter according to the invention allows for connecting anaccessory device to an operating table, which does not have interfacesspecifically designed for the accessory device. Furthermore the adapteritself can be used as support surface extension.

As the plate of the adapter—as support surfaces of customary operatingtables if required as well—consists of an X-ray transparent material,e.g. carbon fibre reinforced plastic, the patient can be supported onthe plate and be treated by means of X-ray diagnostics in the region ofthe plate.

Due to the part of the X-ray transparent plate lying on the supportsurface of the operating table, it is provided for a stable arrangementof the adapter on the operating table. Thus the above-mentioned firstfixing device serving to attach the base body of the adapter to theoperating table can be realized with comparatively low effort. Inparticular it is thus possible to connect the adapter and thus theaccessory device (e.g. by means of a slide rail) in a simple manner todifferent operating tables.

The part of the plate forming the support surface extension ispreferably arranged in a free-standing manner. This means that all partsof the adapter, in particular the above-mentioned second fixing devicefor attaching the accessory device to the adapter are arranged such thatthe area surrounding the support surface extension is kept free fromsaid parts, which could affect the treatment by means of X-raydiagnostics of the body part supported on the support surface extension.

Preferably the part of the plate forming the support surface extensionextends in the longitudinal direction of the support surface of theoperating table and has a length of at least one third of the totallength of the plate. Typically the length is at least 400 mm. Thus it isguaranteed that the adapter provides a sufficiently large additionalpatient support surface, which can be used for supporting the patientaccording to requirements in different positions (in particular inpelvis free position).

In a preferred embodiment the plate can be pushed from one end of thesupport surface in the longitudinal direction onto the support surfaceuntil a first limit stop arranged at the adapter comes to bear against asecond limit stop arranged at the operating table and said one part ofthe plate lies on the support surface. Preferably the part of the platelying on the support surface has substantially the same width as thesupport surface. The above-mentioned part of the plate and the supportsurface of the operating table thus form an overlapping arrangement, thelongitudinal sides of which are aligned with each other. Depending onthe application, the plate can however also be smaller than the supportsurface of the operating table.

In a further advantageous embodiment the first fixing device comprises arail arranged at the plate and a hold-down device, which can be fixed tothe operating table, said hold-down device including a locking elementinsertable into the rail, which locking element can be locked in therail. The rail is e.g. formed as elongated recess in the top surface ofthe plate or as separate component attached to the plate and preferablyarranged at said end of the plate, which is pushed onto the supportsurface of the operating table. Thereby the recess and the lockingelement inserted therein are to be sized preferably such that the topsurface of the locking element is formed flush with the top surface ofthe plate.

In a preferred embodiment the hold-down device can be moved along aguide, which is mounted laterally on the operating table at thelongitudinal direction thereof. Said guide is e.g. formed as slide rail,on which the hold-down device can be moved when the plate is pushed ontothe support surface.

Preferably the first fixing device serving to attach the base body ofthe adapter to the operating table comprises a handle screw having acontact surface, which can be screwed on the bottom surface of theoperating table for securing the plate. Thereby the adapter is securedto the operating table from the bottom surface.

An X-ray transparent cushion can be attached to the top surface of theplate of the adapter. This cushion preferably has a multilayeredstructure, wherein an EPDM backing layer is superimposed by viscoelasticfoam. Attaching the cushion is e.g. carried out by means of a velcrofastener in the form of loop and adhesive tapes, which are attached tothe bottom surface of the cushion or on the top surface of the plate ofthe adapter.

Preferably the above-mentioned second fixing device, by means of whichthe accessory device is attached to the adapter, comprises a shaftreceptacle, in which a plug-in shaft of the accessory device ispluggable.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the shaft receptacle is attachedto a carriage, which can be moved along a guide shaft. Thereby it ispossible to move the shaft receptacle together with the plug-in shaft ofthe accessory device inserted therein to adjust e.g. the accessorydevice to the proportions of the patient and then fix it on the guideshaft.

Preferably the adapter is designed for connecting a plug-in device forhip endoprothetics. However it is also possible to use the adapter forother accessory devices, which are to be attached to an operating table.

According to a further aspect of the invention a system is provided,comprising an operating table, at least one accessory device as well asan adapter of the above-mentioned type.

The invention will be explained in the following on the basis of theFigures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an adapter according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the adapter;

FIG. 3 shows the adapter with mounted plug-in device;

FIG. 4 shows an illustration of how the plate is pushed onto the supportsurface of the operating table;

FIG. 5 shows an illustration of how the hold-down device is attached tothe operating table;

FIG. 6 shows an illustration of how the plate is fixed on the operatingtable by means of the hold-down device;

FIG. 7 shows an illustration of how the plate fixed to the operatingtable is secured from below;

FIG. 8 shows an illustration of how the plate attached to the operatingtable is additionally secured from below;

FIG. 9 shows an illustration of how a cushion is attached to the plate;

FIG. 10 shows an illustration of how an accessory device is attached tothe adapter;

FIG. 11 shows an illustration of how a carriage provided on the adapteris moved;

FIG. 12 shows an illustration of how a countertraction post is attachedto the adapter; and

FIG. 13 shows an illustration of how an abutment is attached to theadapter.

The embodiment described in the following is directed to an adapter,generally referred to with 10, serving to connect an accessory orplug-in device 12 for hip surgery to an operating table 14. The plug-indevice 12 mounted on the adapter 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3. A part ofthe operating table 14 can e.g. be seen in FIG. 4.

On the basis of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the following first an overview of theelements forming the adapter 10 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base body of the adapter 10 is formedfrom a plate 16 consisting of a carbon fibre reinforced plastic. Thisplastic is X-ray transparent.

The adapter 10 further comprises two hold-down devices 20, 22 serving tofix the adapter 10 to the two longitudinal sides of the operating table14. Of the two hold-down devices 20, 22, which are substantiallyidentical in construction and function, in FIGS. 1 and 2 only the devicereferred to with 20 is shown in detail and described in the following.

The hold-down device 20 includes a straight guide rod 24 being arrangedperpendicular to the plate 16 in the mounted condition and an L-shapedrod 26. In the mounted condition the short leg 28 is arrangedperpendicular and the long leg 30 is arranged parallel to the plate 16.

The long leg 30 of the L-shaped rod 26 is inserted into a guide rail 34in the mounted condition, which is attached to one end of the plate 16in the lateral direction.

In order to arrest the long leg 30 of the L-shaped rod 26 in the guiderail 34, a locking device, generally referred to with 36, is provided.The locking device 36 comprises a lever screw 38, a receptacle 40 and aslide rail block 42 having a C-section. The slide rail block 42 can beattached to a slide rail 44, which is mounted on the longitudinal sideof the operating table 14 (cf. FIG. 5). The short leg 28 of the L-shapedrod 26 is movably guided through the receptacle 40. The lever screw 36is screwed into the receptacle 40 with its threaded shank, being notillustrated in detail. By turning the lever screw 38 the threaded shankcan be brought into contact with the short leg 28 of the L-shaped rod26. The short leg 28 can thus be locked in a desired height in thereceptacle 40.

The hold-down device 20 further comprises a further straight rod 50,which is movably arranged at the guide rod 24. The rod 50 is arrestableby means of a locking device 52 on the guide rod 24. The locking device52 is formed from a lever screw 54 and a receptacle 56. The lever screw54 is screwed into the receptacle 56 with its threaded shank, being notillustrated in detail. By turning the lever screw 54 the threaded shankcan be screwed into the receptacle 56 until the threaded shank 56 comesinto contact with the guide rod 24, whereby the rod 50 is locked in thedesired height on the guide rod 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the adapter 10 further includes a handle screw 58having a threaded shank 60, on the end, being the upper end in FIG. 2,of which a contact surface 62 is attached. The threaded shank 60 isscrewed through a threaded bore, being not illustrated in detail, whichis formed in a frame part 64 of the adapter 10. By turning the leverscrew 58 the contact surface 62 can be brought into contact with thebottom surface of the support surface 15 to additionally secure theplate 16.

For attaching the plug-in device 12, shown in FIG. 3, the adapter 10includes a shaft receptacle 66, in which a plug-in interface 68 (cf.FIG. 10) of the plug-in device 12 can be inserted. The plug-in interface68 inserted into the shaft receptacle 66 is arrestable by means of aspring-loaded safety bolt 72. On the shaft receptacle 66 a tommy screw70 is additionally provided serving to eliminate the play of the plug-ininterface 68 inserted into the plug-in receptacle 66.

The shaft receptacle 66 is attached to a frame-shaped carriage 74. Thecarriage 74 is guided movably on a guide shaft 76 extending in thelateral direction in parallel to the plate 16, as can best be seen inFIG. 2.

The carriage 74 can be locked to the guide shaft 76 by means of alocking device 78. The locking device 78 comprises a lever screw 80,which is screwed into the carriage 74 with its threaded shank, being notillustrated in detail. If the lever screw 80 is turned until thethreaded shank comes into contact with the guide shaft 76, the carriage74 is locked on the guide shaft 76. By loosening the lever screw 80 thecarriage 74 together with the shaft receptacle 66 and the plug-ininterface 68 of the plug-in device 12 being seated in the shaftreceptacle 66 can be moved along the guide shaft 76.

As shown in FIG. 1, an X-ray transparent cushion 82 is attached to thetop surface of the plate 16. The cushion 82 includes a through hole 84,into which an end of the countertraction post 86 can be inserted. Thecountertraction post 86 is covered in a cushion 87 (cf. FIG. 12). On theplate 16 a post receptacle 85, not shown in the Figures, is provided forthe countertraction post 86, which is oriented toward the hole 84 of thecushion 82 (cf. FIG. 9). Further an abutment receptacle 88 for attachingan abutment 90 (cf. FIG. 13) is formed on the plate 16.

In the following it will be shortly explained on the basis of FIGS. 4 to13 how the plug-in device 12 is connected to the operating table 14 bymeans of the adapter 10.

As indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, first the plate 16 is pushed onto asupport surface 15 of the operating table 14. The support surface 15 istypically a hard paper plate, on which a cushion, not being shown, islater applied. In the mounted condition the plate 16 is thus arrangedbetween the support surface 15 and said cushion.

In FIG. 4 the plate 16 is pushed onto the support surface 15 to theright to such an extent that a first limit stop arranged at the adapter10 comes to bear against a second limit stop arranged at the operatingtable 14. In the present embodiment a frame part 95 forms theabove-mentioned first limit stop, while the second limit stop isconstituted by a front end face 93 of the operating table 14. To assurea precise positioning of the adapter 10 on the support surface 15, oneor more marking lines can be provided on the plate 16, which are alignedwith the edges of the support surface 15 in case of correct positioning.

As shown in FIG. 5, subsequently the hold-down device 20 is pushed ontoor put in from the side to the slide rail 44 attached to the operatingtable 14. The short leg 28 of the L-shaped rod 26 is then inserted intothe guide rail 34, as shown in FIG. 6. Subsequently, as indicated by thearrow in the enlarged partial view according to FIG. 6, the lever screw38 is tightened manually, to arrest the short leg 28 of the L-shaped rod26 in the guide rail 34. The same is done with the other hold-downdevice 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the rod 50 is then moved upwards along theguide rod 24 until it abuts from below against the operating table 14,e.g. against the shaft structure thereof. By tightening the lever screw54 the rod 50 is locked on the operating table 40.

As shown in FIG. 8, subsequently the handle screw 58 is tightened tobring the contact surface 62 into contact with the bottom surface of thesupport surface 1. If the contact surface 62 abuts against the bottomsurface of the plate 16, the adapter 10 is additionally secured to theoperating table 14.

Subsequently the cushion 82 is laid on the plate 16 and is fixed thereonby means of loop tapes and adhesive tapes, not being shown, which arearranged at the bottom surface of the cushion 82 or the upper surface ofthe plate 16, as shown in FIG. 9.

After the adapter 10 has now been completely mounted to the operatingtable 14, the plug-in device 12 can be connected to the adapter 10. Thisis shown in FIG. 10. For this, the plug-in interface 68 of the plug-indevice 12 is inserted into the shaft receptacle 66 of the adapter 10. Ifthe plug-in interface 68 is secured by means of the spring-loaded safetybolt 72 in the shaft receptacle 68, the lever screw 70 is tightened toeliminate the play.

In FIG. 11 it is shown how the carriage 74, on which the shaftreceptacle 66 is attached, can be moved along the guide shaft 76 toposition the plug-in device 12 correctly on the operating table 14. Forthis, first the lever screw 80 has to be loosened, whereby the carriage74 is freely movable on the guide shaft 76. If the carriage 74 isbrought into the desired position on the guide shaft 76, the lever screw80 is tightened again, to arrest the carriage 74 on the guide shaft 76.

If the cushion 82 is attached to the plate 16, the countertraction post86 can, as shown in FIG. 12, be inserted into the hole 84 formed in thecushion 82 and be fixed in the abutment receptacle 85 (cf. FIG. 9),which is formed in the plate 16.

FIG. 13 finally shows, how the abutment 90 is plugged in the abutmentreceptacle 88 positioned on the bottom surface of the plate 16.

For the sake of completeness, in FIG. 3 the plug-in device 12 being usedfor hip surgery, as mentioned above, is shown together with the adapter10, on which it is mounted. The plug-in device 12, known per se,comprises a plug-in shaft 91 with the plug-in interface 68, a shaftcarriage 92, a support foot 94, a spindle traction mechanism 96, arotary tilting device 98 as well as an extension shoe 100. A slide railbolt 102 for attaching further accessories, e.g. femur hooks, legholders etc. is provided on the plug-in shaft 91.

As becomes also apparent from FIG. 3 said part of the plate 16, to whichthe cushion 82 is attached and which does not lie on the support surface15 of the operating table 14, forms a fully functional support surfaceextension of the operating table 14 in the longitudinal directionthereof. However, the invention is not limited to such an embodiment.Thus, the adapter 10 can also be formed such that it forms exclusivelyor additionally a support surface extension of the operating table 14 inthe lateral direction.

In the present embodiment two plug-in devices of the described type canbe connected on both sides of the adapter 10 and thus on both sides ofthe operating table 14. However, the invention is neither limited to thenumber of mountable plug-in devices nor to the type thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

10 adapter

12 plug-in device

14 operating table

15 support surface

16 plate

20, 22 hold-down devices

24 guide rod

26 L-shaped rod

28 short leg

30 long leg

34 guide rail

36 locking device

40 receptacle

42 slide rail block

44 slide rail

50 rod

52 locking device

54 lever screw

56 receptacle

58 handle screw

60 threaded shank

62 contact surface

64 frame part

66 shaft receptacle

68 plug-in interface

70 tommy screw

72 safety bolt

74 carriage

76 guide shaft

78 locking device

80 lever screw

82 cushion

84 hole

85 post receptacle

86 countertraction post

87 cushion

88 abutment receptacle

90 abutment

91 plug-in shaft

92 shaft carriage

93 front end face

94 support foot

95 frame member

96 spindle traction mechanism

98 rotary tilting device

100 extension shoe

102 slide rail bolt

1. An adapter for connecting at least one accessory device to anoperating table, comprising a first fixing device for attaching a basebody of the adapter to the operating table and a second fixing devicefor attaching the accessory device to the adapter, wherein the base bodyis formed from an X-ray transparent plate, said X-ray transparent plateincluding a part lying on a support surface of the operating table andanother part extending beyond the support surface and forming a supportsurface extension for supporting a patient, when said X-ray transparentplate is attached to the operating table.
 2. The adapter according toclaim 1, wherein the plate consists of carbon fibre reinforced plastic.3. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the part of the plateforming the support surface extension is arranged in a free-standingmanner.
 4. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the part of theplate forming the support surface extension extends in the longitudinaldirection of the support surface of the operating table and has a lengthof at least one third of the total length of the plate.
 5. The adapteraccording to claim 4, wherein the plate can be pushed from one end ofthe support surface in the longitudinal direction onto the supportsurface until a first limit stop arranged at the adapter comes to bearagainst a second limit stop arranged at the operating table and said onepart of the plate lies on the support surface, wherein the part of theplate lying on the support surface has substantially the same width asthe support surface.
 6. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein thefirst fixing device comprises a rail arranged at the plate and at leastone hold-down device, which can be fixed to the operating table, saidhold-down device including a first locking element insertable into therail, which can be locked in the rail.
 7. The adapter according to claim6, wherein the hold-down device can be moved along a guide, said guidebeing mounted laterally on the operating table in the longitudinaldirection thereof.
 8. The adapter according to claim 7, wherein thehold-down device comprises a guide rod, which can be attached laterallyto the operating table, perpendicular to the support surface and anL-shaped rod, the one leg thereof forming the first locking element andthe other leg thereof being movably guided through a receptacle attachedto the guide rod and being arrestable in the receptacle by means of alever screw.
 9. The adapter according to claim 8, wherein the hold-downdevice comprises a rod movably supported at the guide rod as secondlocking element, which can be locked at the operating table.
 10. Theadapter according to claim 5, wherein the first fixing device comprisesa handle screw having a contact surface, which can be screwed on thebottom surface of the operating table for securing the plate.
 11. Theadapter according to claim 1, wherein an X-ray transparent cushion,which can be attached to the plate.
 12. The adapter according to claim11, wherein a velcro fastener for attaching the cushion on the plate.13. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the second fixing devicecomprises a shaft receptacle, in which a plug-in interface of theaccessory device can be plugged.
 14. The adapter according to claim 13,wherein the shaft receptacle is attached to a carriage, which can bemoved along a guide shaft.
 15. The adapter according to claim 1, whereinthe adapter is designed for connecting an accessory device for hipendoprothetics.
 16. The adapter according to claim 15, wherein a postreceptacle for receiving a countertraction post and an abutmentreceptacle for receiving an abutment are formed on the part of the plateforming the support surface extension.
 17. A system, comprising anoperating table, at least one accessory device and an adapter accordingto claim 1 for connecting the accessory device to the operating table.